Abbey Hey vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

ABBEY HEY 0-4 1874 NORTHWICH NWCFL PREMIER 27TH SEPTEMBER 2014

1874 completed a NWCFL double over Abbey Hey comfortably winning 4-0 at the Abbey stadium a fortnight after beating the same foes 3-0 at the Barton Stadium. But for an outstanding performance by Abbey Hey goalkeeper Ross Heywood, 1874’s margin of victory could have been significantly greater.

Playing behind the Premier Division’s second worst defence, Heywood was unable to prevent Mike Brandon from opening the scoring in the 4th minute, intercepting an under hit back pass, Brandon slotted the ball past Heywood.

Ten minutes later Heywood pulled of the first of several top class saves to keep out a powerful Neil Chappell header, however he could not react quick enough to prevent Paul Connor from heading home the rebound while Abbey’s defenders stood and watched.

The home side, languishing in the lower reaches of the league table, offered little threat to the 1874 goal. Jack Mason and Liam Murray both shooting wide of the target as did Ryan Mitchell and Matt Beadle at the other end.

Chappell was once again denied by Heywood on the half hour mark when he raced onto a Connor pass, only to see his well struck shot turned away for a corner. Heywood also saved well at the feet of Brandon and later cut out a dangerous low cross from the same player as several 1874 players were lurking.

After Beadle had shot inches wide early in the second half, Brandon increased 1874’s lead. Matty Ward, carrying the ball forward from the centre circle, fed Brandon whose angled drive from the edge of the area flew underneath Heywood. Ward added 1874’s 4th goal two minutes later when he drilled the ball home from the edge of the area after both Beadle and Brandon had had shots blocked.

Sam Freaks fired a shot just wide of the 1874 goal before Lee Duckworth twice went close to opening his 1874 goal account. In the 56th minute Heywood palmed a Duckworth free kick over the bar and moments later he had a goal bound shot deflected behind for a corner.

Twenty minutes from time Dave Short hit a curling shot against the post and in the dying minutes Heywood saved well to prevent Connor scoring another headed goal.

A sporting contest ended with both sides reduced to nine men as in the closing minutes of the game the referee showed 4 red cards, 2 to each team.

1874 – Conkie, Connor (Crofts 76mins), Woolley, Thomas, Mitchell, Chappell, Beadle (Short 68mins), Jones, Brandon, Ward (Abdullah 74mins), Duckworth. Subs not used Bowyer, Fossdyke.

ABBEY HEY – Heywood, Burywood, Lawrence, Flannagan, Hallows (Mason 8mins – Varra 65mins) , Murray, Shaw, Smith, Collins (Harvey), Freaks, Samms. Sub not used Hardy

GOALS – 1874 Brandon 4, 52, Connor 14, Ward 55.

ATTENDANCE 154 Referee – Mr P.Parry